Compulsory teaching about gender identity in schools - Consultation in Wales

[OldCrone]

There is currently an open consultation in Wales about whether to make RSE compulsory for all children in primary and secondary schools. The new curriculum is likely to include teaching about gender identity.

gov.wales/ensuring-access-full-curriculum

The consultation is open until 28th November, and anyone can participate (you don't have to be in Wales).

Consultation document
gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultations/2019-10/consultation-document-ensuring-access-to-the-full-curriculum_0.pdf

Summary
gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultations/2019-10/summary-of-proposals-ensuring-access-to-the-full-curriculum.pdf

The new curriculum will be based on these recommendations:
gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-03/the-future-of-the-sex-and-relationships-education-curriculum-in-wales.pdf

Gender identity is mentioned throughout. They make sure that the first mention is linked to teaching about lesbian and gay relationships.

SRE is rarely inclusive and too heteronormative
Few SRE programmes address children and young people’s diverse needs, particularly in relation to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) and other minority sex, gender and sexual identities, expressions, experiences, relationships and rights.

Their definition of 'gender identity' is the usual non-definition, and they even say that 2-year-olds have a 'gender identity'.

‘Gender identity’ is used in this report to refer to a person’s inner sense of self. Gender identity does not necessarily relate to the sex a person is assigned at birth. Feelings about gender identity start early, around the age of 2-3.

This is the impact assessment for the proposed changes (at least they've done one this time). But they don't know what all the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 are – they have sex/gender listed instead of sex. They get all the others right.

gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultations/2019-10/integrated-impact-assessment-ensuring-access-to-the-full-curriculum.pdf

It also contains this statement.

It is apparent from the responses to the White Paper and conversations with the Muslim Council for Wales, for example, that certain topics are of particular concern. These topics generally relate to sexual orientation, gender identity and same sex relationships. A continuing position where learners are prevented from receiving consistent, factual and developmentally appropriate education in relation to these issues, has the potential to create an indirect negative impact on people with protected characteristics as a result of their gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

So they recognise the religious objection to teaching about “sexual orientation, gender identity and same sex relationships”, but they don't recognise that one of these things is not like the other two.

The whole document is a mess. All through it they've used gender where they mean sex.

This consultation is important if you have children in school in Wales and want to have the option to withdraw them from lessons about gender identity. RSE is already compulsory for children in England, but in Wales it is yet to be decided.

In this consultation the Welsh Government doesn't discuss sexual orientation and gender identity as two separate issues, but just uses the acronym LGBT, so they fail to see the homophobia as well as misogyny which is part of gender identity ideology. We need to keep explaining the problem to them.

There is some hope that the message is getting through. In their analysis of the responses to the consultation on the Curriculum for Wales 2022 they mention specific concerns about 'gender identity'. (Although they show once again that they don't know the difference between sex and gender.)

Some of the substantive issues raised by those respondents against the inclusion of RSE mirrored broader and ongoing debates in education and in broader society. A few respondents raised concerns surrounding the specific inclusion of gender identity in RSE, for example. From this perspective, respondents felt that the curriculum should include a clearer and distinct biological understanding of gender.

Just bumping this as there are only two days left of this consultation. Please consider participating even if you're not in Wales. This is the first question:

Question 1: What implications would there be for learners, parents / guardians / carers and schools if all learners were required to receive Religious Education (RE) and / or Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) lessons in the new curriculum?

If you think that teaching the belief system of 'gender identity' should not be made compulsory, you can just put a short comment to that effect as a reply to question 1. You don't have to answer all the other questions.

Link to the questionnaire here.
gov.wales/node/25971/respond-online

Done.

I would add, it only took a few minutes. It’s nothing like the GRA consultations. Much easier.

Really? Wow. First ever. And not sure why. But NVM.

BolloxtoGender I read your post and I didn't think there was anything in it that should be deleted.

But it just shows that people are watching this thread because they don't want us to use the opportunity that we have to try to influence government policy.

I don’t know what offended more, the swearing 🤬 or speaking the truth.

@oldcrone

Consultation done. I basically shared my sentiment of what I said in the deleted post, minus the swearing. :D

Done

Done

Consultation closes tomorrow.

I did this a couple of weeks ago. Only took 5 minutes, so well worth doing.

The consultation ends today.

Last chance to respond today - the consultation is open to anyone - you don't have to be in Wales.

gov.wales/node/25971/respond-online

It only takes a few minutes. You can just write a short reply as an answer to Q1 about why making it compulsory to teach children about gender identity is a problem. You don't have to answer all the other questions.

The only personal details you have to give are your name and email. Make sure you tick the 'keep my response anonymous' box on the last page before you submit if you don't want your personal details to be made public.

I suggested 'understanding gender' should be put in with RE rather than RSE, as not based on material facts.

Really don't see the need for push towards sexuality instead of sex either. Sex includes so much more than sexuality.

Completed the survey today. Commented that all teaching should be based on biological facts, that organisations that may be consulted should be balanced. Also made the point that no one should be told that they must “change sex” based on stereotypes. Sadly due to job felt I had to give a false email rather than risk being outed as a heretic. I do on occasion still take my adult human female mug in though!😁

Done.

There was an interesting case last week re the atheist parents who won a legal battle to withdraw their child from daily prayers at school.

Could this approach (as in I do not believe in gender ideology) work for the current proposals at all?

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/11/21/primary-school-backs-atheist-parents-claimed-daily-prayers-breached/

This was issued for the consultation re English schools, Some useful info/terminology.
There are also lots of other resources on the site:

www.transgendertrend.com/rse-government-consultation/

There are a few more hours left if you want to take part in this consultation. It only takes a few minutes. It closes at midnight.